Self-playing musical instrument



M. WEISBERG.

SELF PLAYING MUSICAL INSTRUMENT.

APPLICATION HLED SEPTI 15-. 1'915.

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M. wElsBERG.

SELFPLA'YING MUSICAL INSTRUMENT. APPLlcATlo'N HLED sEPT. 15. 1.9.15.

1,330,928. Pamed Feb.17,1920.

9 4 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

M. WEISBERG.

SELF PLAYING MUSICAL INSTRUMENT.

APPLICATION HLED s.EPT.1. 1915.

:1,330,928. w Pamd Feb.17,1920.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

zzlze M' WEISBERG.

SELF PLAYING MUSICAL INSTRUMENT.

'APPUCATION FILED SEPT. L5 1915. 1,330,928, Patented Feb.17,1920.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

, a a WW a fm W of fi nnirnn s'rarns PATENT OFFICE.

MAX 1vVEIS-BERG', OE BUFFALO, NEW YORK.

SELF-PLAYING MUSICAL INSTRUMENT.

Application filed September 15, 1915.

To all wLom it may conccrn Be it known that I, MAX VEISBERG, a citizen of the United States, residing at- Buffalo, in the county of Eric and State of New York, have. invented certain new and useful mprovements in Self-Playing Musical Instruments, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to self-playing musical instruments and more particularly to that class of 'musical instruments wherein a plurality of tracker bars is einployed, each tracker bar having a music sheet coperating` therewith.

One of the objects of my invention is the production of an instrument of this class which is automatically, as well as manually, controlled and which can be controlled from a distant point; also wherein any one of a number of selections may be played, any music sheet rewound either back to its starting` point or back to a certain passage of the selection, and any selection played indepcndent of the positions of the other music sheets, the starting of one selection serving` to interrupt the selection being played at the time.

Another object of niy invention is the provision of automatic playing devices within the instrument which can be positioned directly in rear of the front panel of a piano.

Another object is the production of a musical instrument particularly designed to be used in moving picture theaters where it is desired to have the selections harmonize with the pictures projected upon the screen.

A further object is to so constructthe invention that the selection may 'be instantlychanged at any time by the manipulation of push buttons or other manually-operated means, either by an operator positioned near the musical instrument or by the cinen'iatograph operator usually located a distance from the screen onto which the pictures are projected.

A further object is to provide means whereby, when one of the selections is played, the music sheet of such selection may be automatically rewound and another composition or selection .immediately started, the selections being played successively as arranged on the supporting frame carryng the successive tracker bars and thelr cooperatinp; music sheets, or in any other arrangement, as may be desired.

specification of Letters ZEatent.l

Patented Feb. 17, 1920.

serial no. 50,780.

A further object is the provision of electric devices which control the forward movement of the music sheets, there being one solenoid or other suitable electric device for each music Sheet, each solenoid or device controlling a vent which leads to a pneumatic for controlling forward clutch mechanism.

A further object of'my invention is the provision of means which permits any one of the music sheets to be rewound, either the entire unwound portion or any part thereof that may be desired, asv for instance when the operator wants to reverse the music sheet to repeat only a certain part of the selection. llVhenever a music sheet is thu's reversed by manual control, the electric circuit which contains the solenoid is broken so that the next succeeding music sheet is not caused tostart.

A further object of Vmy invention is the provision of ,means for closing` the tubes connected with the apertures or ducts in a tracker bar associated with a sheet of music that is 'being` reversed or rewound. In the preferred embodiment vof my invention I have illustrated this means in the form of a chambered chest having connection with the exhaust bellows of the instrument and having passages Vtherein which serve'as continuations of the tubes and with said tubes connect the tracker bar with the vaction mechanism. Each of said passages is divided into two parts and these parts are shut off, one from the other, 'by a. pneumatic or pouch adapted to be drawnaway from the two parts of the passage, and to causejone part to be placed in communication with the other.

A still further object is to provide improved .mechanism of this character which is simple, durable, cheap in construction and highly eflicient in operation.

My invention consists in the novel features of construction and in the arrangement and combination of mechanisms and elements to be hereinafter described and particularly pointed out in the sub'joined claims.

In general 'terms my invention comprises a frame or frames; tracker bars supported on said frame or frames with their' coperating music sheet rollers,all ofthe tracker bars and music sheet rollers being mounted on a single frame, or arranged on a number of frames. Any number of `these frames may beemployed, depending on thenumber of music sheets desired, a single music sheet or any number of music sheets being arranged on a single frame. Each of the tracker bars is provided with apertures or ducts in the usual manner, which register with apertures in the music sheet, and each of the apertures or ducts of the tracker bar is connected by means of tubing to pneumatics for causing the hammers to strike the strings in a piano, or other sounding elements of similar instruments. The frame, or each of the frames, above referred to, supports a driving shaft which is arranged by suitable mechanism to be connected with the take up roll or the delivery roll so that the music sheet may be drawn across the tracker bar in the desired direction. The driving shafts are connected to or driven by a single shaft which is either manually or electrically driven, as illustrated in the drawings.

The selection started continues to play unless it is interrupted by the operator, as will be hereinafter pointed out, or until it reaches a point near the end of the music sheet where an aperture in the music sheet registers with an aperture or duct in the tracker bar to produce actuation of a pneumatic which connects the rewind mechanism with the driving shaft. At the instant this rewind mechanism is connected with the driving shaft an electric circuit is closed, in which circuit is included the solenoid for controlling the second music sheet. rl'he action of this solenoid like the one associated with the first music sheet, opens the vent, which in turn causes operation of the for- Ward drive mechanism associated with the second music sheet. The first music sheet continues to rewind until it returns to its starting position. where an aperture. in the music sheet registers with an aperture or duct in the tracker bar to cause collapse of a stop pneumatic which disconnects the rewind mechanism. Novel rewind and stop mechanism is employed so that only a single stop pneumatic is necessary for any number of music sheets. The second sheet continues to play until it reaches the end, at which time it is rewound and the third one started. This succession in action continues until the fourth or all succeeding sheets have been played, at which time the first one will again be started.

These and other features of my invention will be more clearly pointecl out in the following description, in which reference is had to the accompanying drawings and in which,-

Figure 1 is a fragmentary front elevation of a piano provided with the automatic playing device of my invention, the front panel of the piano being removed.

Fig. 2 is a transverse section of the mechanism for controlling the vents leading to the forward drive pneumatics; also showing the pneumatics controlling` the rewind and stop mechanism, said last-mentioned pneumatics being` supported on the same supports as the solenoids of said mechanism.

Fig. 8 is a front elevation of the supporting frame or one of the supporting frames, as the case may be, showing a part of the music sheet torn away and the rewind control and stop for rewind control; also showing the means for manually controlling the rewind either for rewinding a music sheet, the unwound portion thereof, or any portion thereof.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged longitudinal section of the manual rewind and stop control taken on line H, Fig. 8.

Fig. 5 is an enlarged transverse section taken on line 5-5, Fig. 4.

Fig. 6 is an enlarged transverse section taken-on line 6-6, Fig. a.

Fig. 7 is an enlarged Vertical section taken on line 7-7, Fig. 1.

Fig. 8 is a Vertical longitudinal section taken on line 8-8, Fig. 2, on a reduced scale.

Fig. 9 is a longitudinal section taken on line 9-9, Fig. 2, on a reduced scale.

Fig. 10 is a horizontal section taken on line 10-10, Fig. 9.

Fig. 11 is a section similar to Fig. 2, showing parts of the electro-magnetic devices and the pneumatics and controls associated therewith in different positions.

Fig. 12 is a diagrammatic view of the electric circuit wires controlling the various parts and devices.

Fig. 13 is a front elevation of the mechanism for actuating` the take-up spool and the delivery spool.

Fig. 14 is a horizontal section taken on line 14-11l, Fig. a. Fig. 15 is a Vertical longitudinal section taken on line 15-15, Fig. 7

The piano casing is designated by the numeral 20, which casing contains the strings, hammers coperating therewith, pneumatic devices for Operating 'the hammers, the main suction bellows communicating with the pneumatics, and rubber or other tubing` affording` connnunication between the pneumatics and the tracker bar, all of which are' well known in the art to which this invention appertains, and for this reason I have thought it unnecessary to illustrate the same in the drawings.

Suitably supported within the piano casing is a board or shelf 21 which extends entirely across the inside of the piano, directly back of the front panel. Supported from this board or sli-elf bv means of bearings 22 or oth rwise is a shaft 23 carrying bevel gears 24, 25, meshing re pectively with bevel gears 26, 27, the bevel gear 26 being secured to a shaft 28 driven in any suitable manner by an electric motor 29 or otherwise, while bevel gear 27 is secured to an upright or driving shaft 30 adapted to actuate, by means of suitable intermediate mechanism, the several music sheet rolls to be hereinafter described.

Secured to the board or shelf 21 is a suppcrting frame 31 which carries a plurality of music sheets, as illustrated. In the particular representation of my invention illustrated I have shown three music sheets sup' ported on a frame, but any other number may be supported on the frame or on a plurality of frames, as this is mei'ely a matter of choice and adaptation of my invention to meet certain conditions.

The supporting frame comprises a pair of spaced uprights 32 which are secured to the :board or shelf 21 in any suitable manner. Extending between the uprights 32 are tracker bars 33 which are preferably adjustably mounted so that they may be shifted longitudinally to cause the apertures or ducts contained therein to register cor'rectly with the apertures provided in the music sheets. Each tracker bar is associated with a delivery roll 34 and a take-up roll 85, bearings being provided in the uprights 82 of the supporting frame for the shafts 36 of the delivery rolls and for the shafts 36a of' the take-up rolls.

The shaft 30 is arranged parallel With one of the uprights 32 and a short distance from the same, a bearing 87 being provided at the upper end of said upright to properly support said shaft, and a bearing 38 is provided in the board or shelf 21 in which the, lower end of said shaft is journaled. This shaft may of course be otherwise journaled to assure proper operat-ion of the same.

Secured to the spindle 36 of each delivery roll is a bevel gear 39 which is adapted to' mesh at certain times with a bevel gear 40 secured to the driving shaft 30, and the spindle 30a of each take-up roll has a spur Vgear 41 secured thereto adapted to mesh at certain times with a pinion 42. Suitable mechanism is provided to shift each of the bevel gears 39 into and out of mesh with its coperating bevel gear 40 of the driving shaft, and suitable means is also provided to Shift each of the pinions 42 into and out of mesh with its co'perating spur gear 41 so that any delivery roll of the series or any take-up roll may be actuated at will for winding 'the desired music sheet in a forward direction to the extent desirecl, or for rewinding the same after being fully paid out or only partly paid out, this being accomplished by means to be presently descrbed.

I pref'erably provide suitable brackets 43, 44, on 'the upright of the supporting frame adjacent the shaft 80, said brackets having the=extremities of the spindles 36, 36a of the delivery and take-up rolls, respectively, journaled therein. The spindle of each delivery roll has its bevel gear 39 slidably mounted thereon, said gear being preferably splined to the shaft so that it may rotate with the latter while being free to slide thereon, the hub of' the gear being provided with an annular groove 45 into which the pins or studs 46 of a shifting yoke 47 eX- tend, said yoke forming part of a bell-crank lever 48. The outstanding arm of said bellcrank lever has one end of an actuating rod 49 secured thereto, the other end being fastened to an actuating pneumatic 50. 'One of these pneumatics is provided for each music sheet and when collapsed they cause. the bevel gears 39 to be moved into mesh with the bevel gears 40 on the driving shaft, it being' of course understood that these pneiunatics are actuated independent of each other. The pinions 42 are secured to counter-shafts 51 which are mounted for rotation and lengthwise movement in the upright 32 adj acent the driving shaft 30 and in the adjacent braclrets 44. Each of these counter-shafts is moved lengthwise in its bearings by a bell-crank lever 52, receiving pivotal support from the upright 32 and having one end of an actuating rod 53 secured thereto, the other end of said actuating rod being secured to an actuating pneumatic 54. The bellows 54, may respectively be termed winding and rewinding pneuma-tics Each of the counter-shafts 51 has a friction disk 55 secured thereto which is movable with the pinion 42 on said shaft and on the driving shaft 30 are three friction Wheels 56 against which the friction disks 55 are adapted to engage. -Each friction disk is independently movable and serves to actuate its coperating take-up roll. The

rewinding pneumatic 50 and winding pneumatic 54 are actuated inl the usual manner by causing them to collapse, each having connection with the suction bellows of the instrument or with a suction chest controlled by a suction bellows, as is common. The eXpa-nsion of these rewinding pneumatics may be effected by springs acting against their movable boards or some partconneeted with the movable boards, as is common in the art. l/Vhen any of the rewinding pneumatics is collapsed it causes downward movement of the actuating rod 49 connected therewith which in turn swings the bell-crank lever 48 connected to said rod and causes the coperating bevel gear 39 to be moved lengthwise on the spindle 36 of the delivery roll. This causes engagement of said bevel gear with the coperating bevel gear 40 on the driving shaft 80, and as said shaft is in constant rotation, the delivery roll is actuated,` causing the music sheet to'v be rewound, the rewinding' continuing until suitable stop mechanism is brought into action, as will be hereinafter d scribed. Said stop mechanism is Controlled either manually or automatically, the automatic actuation of' th Stop mechanisin being eifected' by the introduction of air through one of the apertures or ducts of the tracker bar, said aperture or duet being connected by a suitable tube vith said stop 'mechanisnr For this purpose the music sheet is provided with an aperture 57 adapted to register with said aperture Vor duet in the tracker bar when the Sheet reaches the end of the selection. `W hen one of the winding pneumatics 5a'- is collapsed it causes the coperating counter -shaft 51 to slide in its bearings, which carries the friction disk 55 o-n said shaft in contact with one of the friction Wheels 56 of the driving shaft and also brings the pinion adjacent said friction dish into mesh with the spur gear il on the spindle of the take-up roll 35. The driving shaft 30 through tie medium of said friction wheel, fric-tion disk, pinion and spur gear rotates the take-up roll and causes the music Sheet to be moved in a forward direction for playing, this movement of the music Sheet being continued until the aperture 57 in the music sheet at the end of the selection passes over an aperture or duet in the tracker bar which admit air to a pneumatlc arranged to control the rewinding of the sheet. This rewinding, however, may be effected at any pointin the forward movement of the sheet, by mechanism to be presently referred to. The winding, and the rewinding of the music sheet is continued so long as the rewinding pneumatic 54: or the rowinding pneumatic 50 is held in collapsed position.

will now describe the construction and operation of the controlling device for controlling the actuation of the pneumatics causing the windinp; and rewinding of the music sheets. This device comprises a frame or block 58 having a chamber 59 provided with vent openings G0, there being three of these vent openings. Three passagcs 61 are also in communication with the Chamber 59, to each of which a tube 62 is connected. These tubes lead to the winding pneumatics 54;.

Closing each of the passages G1 from the Chamber 59 is a valve 63 having its Stem eX- tending upwardly through the top wall of the Chamber, and in order to retain said` valve in open position a spring' 64 surrounds the stem and bears with one end against a pin 65 extending through the Stein or Some other suitable stop, and with its other end against the top wall of said Chamber.

ositioned adjacent each of the vent openings 60 is a solenoid 66 having a core 67 provided with an enlargement or head 68 at its lower end whlch serves as a valve to close said vent opening, and each of the cores has a collar or flange 69 thereon which is adapted to engage a spring-actuated horlzontally-disposed retainer bar 70 when the core is elevated. The retainer bar is held in normal position, which is that shown in full lines in Fig. 11, by springs 71 surrounding its spindle 7 2 at opposite ends, said spindle being mounted in brackets 73 secured to the frame 58, (Fig. 10). The inner side of this retainer bar is provided with an inclined surface 'Ze' which is adapted to be engaged by the collars or fianges 69 of' said cores during the upward movement of the latter.

When one of the solenoids is energized, its core will be attracted and moved upwardly. This movement of the core, whichever one it may be, causes the enlarged end thereof to open the coperating vent opening 60 and the collai` or flange 69 thereof to engage the inclined surface 74 of the retainer bar, thereby moving' the latter outwardly until said collar or flange passes the upper end of said bar, whereupon the Springs 71 immediately return said bar to normal position. In this manner the actuated core, which forms part of what may be termed a vent-control, is retained in elevated or open position by the retainer bar, or stop device, as it may be termed.

Even though the solenoid again becomes denergized, the core is retained in this elevated position until a second solenoid of the series is energized, whereby its cooperating core is attracted and actuates the retainer bar in the manner descdbed. This actuation of' the retainer bar releases the core which was first attracted and thus causes the same to return to its normal position so as to close its coperating vent opening 60. After the last-mentioned core has been thus returned, the retainer bar again returns to its normal position and retains the core which was last a tracted in elevated position until the third solenoid is energized. The same treatment is imparted to the third solenoid when the first core is energized. In fact, the arrangement herein illustrated is such that any one of the armatures will return to normal position to close its coperating vent opening 60 when any other solenoid of the series is energized, regardless of whether the solenoids are energized in succession or otherwise.

1When any of the cores are elevated, the atmospheric air enters the coperating vent opening 60 (Figs. 2 and 11) and passes through the Chamber 59, thence through the passage 61, from which' it enters the tube 62 in communication with said passage. From the tube 6:2 it enters the winding pneumatic 54 for winding the coperating music sheet, said pneumatic havino' a suction tube 7 5 connected thereto whic acts to collapse the pneumatic immediately the corresponding Vent opening 60 is uncovered. This causes the friction disk 55 of the set of devices in which said pneumatic is included to be moved into contact with `the coperatingl friction wheel 56 on the driving shaft 80 and also causes the pinion'l on the o countershaft 51 to cngage the A f 41 on the spindle of the coperating ta e-up roll 35, thereby moving the corrcsponding music sheet forwardly over the tracker bar associated therewith.

^he mechanisni employed for opening the rewind vents and the inechanisin for stopping` the rewind after the music sheet has been returned to its original position is as follows,-

The aperture 57 forined in each music Sheet at the end of the lselection is adapted to pass over an aperture or duet 7 6 in the tracker bar, and a tube 77 connects said apei'ture or duet with a valve chest 78, located in the frame or block 58, said chest haring a suction chamber 79 connected with the suction bellows by a tube 80. An air chaniber 81 is arranged adjacent said suction chainber and a passage S2 connects said suction Chamber with a rewind control pneumatic 83. A pneumatic or pouch S41 arrang'ed between the air Chamber 81 and the suction chaniber 79 and when said air chainber is fiushed by uncovering the aperture or duet 7 6 in the corresponding` tracker bar, suction within said suction Chamber draws the pneuniatic or pouch 841 upwardly. ihis causes a Valve S5 to uncover a port 86 1h connects the suction chaniber with the 82, and thus the suction within fl Chamber acts to collapse the rewind control pneumatic. rEhe latter has an extendne ar'fn 87 on its inovable board and a nieconducting or contact plate 88 applied to the underside of the projecting portion of said arin and bearing against the upper end of the stem of Valre 63 so that when the iweuniatic 83 is collapsed it overcoines the act' n of the spring 64 surrounding` said stein and causes said Valve to 'be 2d, thus closing the passage (51 which is in coi munication with the winding pneuria'tic 511. This therefore perinits the winding` pneumatic to expand so as to disengage the friction disk 55 from the friction wheel a d the pinion 4:2 from the spu'r gear therebj,7 stopping the forward winding mt of ie music sheet.

the eXtendinU arni 87 of the pneuis drawn downwardlv, the contact plate engages a contact plate 89 secured to the frane or block 58, the purpose of which will be hereinafter described.

90 designates a rewind-stop pneumatic upon the collapsin'g of which the rewinding This pncninatic has a projecting ceeses. arm 91 on its morable board engaging a shoulder or stop 92.011. the extendlng arin 87 of the rewind-con'trol pneuinatic I83. When the rewind control pneumatic 83 is collapsed, the arin 91 of the rewind stop pneuinatic 90 becoines disengaged from said shoulder or stop 92, and the spring 93 within said pneuniatic 90 causes the latter to expand. Said pneumatic 90 then engages a trip Valve 94 which is spring-retained to close a vent opening 95, and which, when actuated, uncovers said vent opening. It may here be stated that since there are three music sheets and tracker bars shown there are, in order to control each of the sheets separately; three rewinding pneuinatics 50, three winding pneuinatics 54:; three solenoids 66; three rewind. control pneuinatics 83, and three rewind stop pneuniatics, each solenoid and each pneumatic having ducts or passages and Valves or other controlling means associated therewith to control the winding of each music Sheet, and also the rewinding of the same independently. Said Vent opening 95 is connected with the coperatinlg rewinding pneumatic 50 by a tube 96, and as said rewinding pneuinatic is also in communication with the suction bellows of the instrument by means of a tube 97, the suction within said tube acting upon said rewinding pneuniatic, when the vent opening 95 is uncoyered, causes said ;neuinatic to collapse, which inoves the coperating bevel gear 39 on the delivery spool of the music sheet int-o mesh with the inating bevel wheel 4:0 on the driving shaft 30. In this manner the -rewinding of the sheet is brought about. VVhen the music sheet approaches the end of its rewinding nioyernent, an aperture 98 therein at the coinnieneeinent of the selection passes over an aperture or duet 99 in the tracker bar which is in communication with a Valve chest 100 by means of a tube 101, the tube I being connected to an air Chamber 102 in said chest which is separated from a suction Chamber 103 therein by a pneuinatic or pouch 101. Sucticn chainber 103 has connection with the suction bellows of the instrument by a tube 105 and is separated from an air passage 106 by a wall 107, said air passage being in connection with the rewind stop pneuinatic 90.

Vhen air is adinitted to the aperture or duet 99 in the tracker bar, the suction within the suction chaniber 103 causes the pneuinatic or pouch 104 to be drawn upwardly.

Thiscauses a Valve 108 to uncover a port causes the coperating bevel gear 39 to be moved out of mesh with the mating bevel gear 40 on the driving shaft and thus stops the rewinding movement of the music Sheet.

As shown in Fig. 1, the musiC-,Sheets are arranged one above th-e other, and for Convenience in further describing the invention l will refer to the uppermost music Sheet as sheet No. 1, the second as Sheet No. 2, and the lowermost Sheet as Sheet No. 3. I will also refer to the solenoids shown in Fig. 1 as solenoids Nos. 1, 2 and 3, respectively, ranging successively from left to right. ln Fig. 1 have also shownV three push buttons 110, for which may be suhstituted any other form of electric make-and-break device.

These are shown in a horizontal series corresponding to the music sheets and the Solenoids and are referred to successively as Nos. 1, 2 and 3 from right to left, and in addition thereto I have also shown a push button 111 for controlling the electric motor 29. t is to be understood that each solenoid has associated therewith one of the rewind- Control pneumatics 88, and each of these pneumatics Co-acts with a rewind stop pneumatic 90, also with one of the trip valves 94tso thatthe-re is a complete Controllinp,` device or a complete set of devices or mechanisms associated with each Solenoid.

V7 hen for instance, the rewind-Control pneumatic 88 associated with solenoid No. 1

is colla'psed, the-contact plate 88 thereof engages the co-acting contact plate 89, which causes Solenoid No. 2 to be energized, the core of said solenoid No. 2 is then drawn upwardly and causes the retainer'ioar to be swung outwa-rdly, thereby disengaging any other core that may be held elevated so that it may descend to close its cooperating vent opening 60. This upward movement of the core N o. 2 uncovers the vent opening 60 'associated therewith and also causes a spring retained trip-valve 112 to uncover a vent opening 113, said vent opening` Vbeing in communication with the air Chamber 10:9J of valve chest 100 through the medium of a tube 11%. This upward movement of the Core therefore fiushes chamher 102 and permits the suction in Chamber 103 to open the valve 108 and cause collapse,

Vof the rewind-stop pneumatic 90 in the same set. The upward movcinent of the core of the solenoid No. 2 immediately Starts the forward movement of music Sheet No. 2, and as the rewind-Control pneumatic 83 is collapsed only when the forward movement of music Sheet No. 1 is discontinued, it is clear that the selection of Sheet No. 2 is played immediately the selection of Sheet No. 1 is finished. VVhen the selection of Sheet No. 2

is completed the rewind-control pneumatic is energized; the core thereof rising` and Causing, through intermediate means, the lowering of the core of the solenoid No. ,2, thus stopping the forward winding morement of Sheet No. 2, and immediately causing` the forward winding movement of Sheet No. 3. When the end of the selection on Sheet No. 3 is reached, the rewind-Control pneumatic 83 'associated therewith is caused to collapse and the contact plates 88, 89 of set N o. 3 to be brought into engagement to energize solenoid No. 1. This causes the core of solenoid No. 3 to lower and stops the forward winding movement of 'Sheet No. 3 while it places .in immediate action the windin g pneumatic of Sheet No. 1. The continual playing of the instrument is thus Controlled automatically and the selections are played successively.

I will now describe the push-button or make and break device I employ for manul ally controlling the various movenients of the music sheets.

These push buttons, which I have previously designated by the numerals 110 and 111, may be arra'nged at any conv-enient place on the instrument or at a distant point to be Controlled by a person whose duty it is to sec that the music is rendcred in harmony with the scen-es displaved upon a screen. This may most Convemently he under the control of the operator of the machine projecting the pictures. 1 have shown in Fig. 1, button No. 1 at the right of the series. This button may 'be any ordinary push button controlling an elect 'c Circuit and upon pressing uitton No. 1 an electric Circuit is formed in which Solenoid No. 1 is included. llrfhcn this Circuit is closed the Core of solenoid No. 1 is energized and the vent opening G0 corresponding` vith Core No. 1 uncovered. rlf'his Causes the actuation of the windpneumatic associated therewith, her-ci-nhefore described, and selection No. 1 to be play-ed. This selection is Continued so long as it is in hormony with ,the pictures displayed on the screen, or it may be continued until completed, in which latter Case Vthe automatic mechanism comes into action to rewind the music Sheet and sh'nultaneously place another Sheet in action. lf,

however, the picture displayedL requires an-- other Selection iu order to ;'rmonizc therewith, push button No. 2 may be depressed,

which establishes an electric Circuit and en- No. 2 to Comme'nce its forward movement.

At the same time, Sheet No. 1 is being rewound so that it may be brought into action from the beginning` of the selection ther'eon at any desired time. lf button No. 3 is depressed an electric Circuit is established in which solenoid No. 3 is included. Said solenoid is thus energized and its core raised, whereupon the core of solenoid No; 2 descends and closes its coperating Vent opening; 60. This causes the selection on sheet No. 3 to be played while that on sheet No. is discontinued and said last-inentior'id sheet rewound. Upon again deprcssing b tton No. 1, solenoid No. 1 is energized causing the selection on sheet No. 1 to be played and sheet No. 3 to be stopped and rewound. 1t is of course to bc understood that prior to depressing any of the buttons 110, it is necessary to place the motor in action by depressing button 111 so that the drive shaft is in continual iuotion and capable of imparting the desired motion to the music sheets when actuating the controlling` devices.

.ln order that any select-ion niay be played at any time, or any portion of the selection played, as may be desired. 1 have provided a series of stop and rewind-control buttons. Tn the particular' arimiqement shown ablccl: 115 is provided in which stop buttons 116 and rewind buttons 117 a 'e arranged. Each of the rewind buttons is seated in a poc (et 118 fcrmed in id blocl; and has a shoulder 119 forined thereon. spring 120 eisurrounds each rewind button between its shoulder and the bottoin of the no' `'et said J spring serving to hold the button in its outerinost position. Each of the rewind buttons extends into a Chamber 121 fo: ned in the block, and this cl nher has contacts 122?L secured to one of its walls. The excured thercto which Vnorin'ally is in engageinent with the co-actingl contacts 122.y 122% se contacts are included in an electric circuit in which the solenei'lsare include and normally close the circuit.

On the underside of this block are spring plates secured to an extension Vof said blocl: by n eans of screws 126 or other- Wise.` and each plate ias secured thercto a tube 27 which is ncrmally closed ierent re, hencyy of sa d i).

tue block against cnien the p said s* ip of feit oc 1a with the tube 12? so as to po the inner end of the s i i phere when the plate a p sition.

;i yolc member or stop 129 l'iinits the outward inovement of all spi i tes 12%.

Pin* bottoni wall of the chainber member, thus opening the coperating tube 127 t iscf course to be understocd that these rewind buttons correspond number to the number of music sheets or sets of controlline' devices employed.

The tubcs 127 have connection with the tubes 77 which lead'to the Valve ches't 78 s'o that when rent is given to any of the tubes 127 the suction in the corresponding chanib-cr T9 of said chcst causes tiie coperating pneumatic or pouch Sat to be drawn upwardly, thus opening the Valve 85 and placing the rewind control pneumatic 83 of the same set in communication with said suction Chamber. This causes said pneumatic to collapse, whereupon the contact 88 of said pneumatic engages the corrcsponding contact 89 and energizes another solenoid so that the core of the latter is elevated in the manner hereinbefore described. This movement of the core will allow any other core that may be elevated to descend and close its coperating vent opening 60, thus throwing the winding inechanism of the coperating music sheet out of action. Tt is of course understood that it is only necessary to hold the rewind button 17 depressed until the contact SS of the rewind control pneui'natic engages the corresponding contact 89; such action occurring almost instantaneously.

The collapse of the rewind-control pneuinatic 83 perinits expansion of the rewindstop pneumatic 90, which then acts to open tne corresponding trip valve 941 so as to vent the rewinding pneuinatic and permit its being collapsed. This causes the rewinding of the music sheet roll until it reaches the beginning of the selection thereon, at which tiine the aperture 98 in said Inusic Sheet passes over the aperture or (luct 99 in the tracker bar and causes the rewinding to cease; or the rewinding may be stopped manually at any point by depressing the stop button 116 included in the same set of devices.

The stop buttons 116 are held elevated by spring plates 131, best shown in Fig. 6. Each of these spring plates has a tube 132 attached thereto.I the inner end of which is closed when said plate is raised into contact with the block 115, a piece of felt 132ZL or other material being,` applied to the block to assure a positive closing of this tube. The outward moyenient of said spring plates are also limited by the yoke member or stop 129 and the inherent resiliency of said plate returns the latter to normal position so that the tubes 132 are fiushed only when depressing the stop buttons. These tubes 132 are connected with the tube 101 leading` from the aperture or duct 99 in the tracker bar to the Valve chest 100 so that when any one of the stop buttons is dep'ressed7 the suction within the Chamber 103 of said valve chest causes the collapse of the rewind-stop pneumatic 90 so that it engages the shoulder 119 of the coperating rewindcontrol pneumatic 83.

It is therefore apparent that any one of the music sheets may be stopped at any point in its forward movement, and rewound and stopped at any point in its return move- .uient so that any portion of a selection may be played, and re-played as often as desired.

In Fig. 12 1 have shown a diagrammatic view of the circuit wires, in which 133 represents the battery or source of electrical energy, 66 the three solenoids, 117 the circuit breakers, hereinbefore referred to as the rewind buttons, and 134 make and break devices, each of which comprises a pair of the contact plates 88, 89. The oircuit breakers 117 may be termed button switches, and the make-and-break devices 134 may be termed pneumatic switches, since they are actuated by the rewind-control pneumatics 83. The rewind buttons 117 constitute a single circuit breaker since the circuit does not change upon depressing any of said buttons. The different rewind buttons, however, control the action of difierent rewind-control pneumatics.

A Wire 136 connects one pole of the battery 133 with the circuit breakers 117, also with the pneumatic switches 134 and the push buttons 110, or similar make and break devices. A Wire 137 connects the opposite pole of the battery with the solenoids 66, which are connected with the push buttons 110 and the pneumatic switches 134 in the following manner, solenoid No. 1 is connected With push button No. 1, by a Wire 138, and with pneumatic switch No. 3, by Wire 138 and a wire 139. Solenoid No. 2 is connected with push button No. 2, by a Wire 140 and With pneumatic switch No. 1 by wire 140 and a Wire 141. Solenoid No. 3 is connected With push button No. 3 by a wire 142 and With pneumatic switch No. 2 by wire 142l and a wire 143.

The operation of the device is as follows,-

Assuming all parts to be in normal position and the instrument idle, it is necessary that the electric motor 29 be brought into action, which is done by depressing the but-l ton or other similar device 111. This causes the driving shaft 30, through the intermediaries described, to be rotated. A plurality of such driving` shafts may be rotated, or aV single shaft employed regardless of the number of music sheet rolls to be played. Tt is understood that there are as many sets of devices as there are music sheets and that in starting to playthe instrumentV any one of the music sheets may be rotated. This merely requires the proper push button 110 to be depressed to cause the solenoid in the same set of devices to be energized, whereupon the core thereof ls elevated and raises the trip valve 112 from its seat. This flushes the air chamber 102 of the valve chest 100, whereupon the suction in the suction chamber 103 of said chest acts to elevate the pneumatic or pouch 104 and raise the valve 108 from its seat so that the rewind-stop pneumatic 90 is collapsed, if not previously collapsed, and retained in such condition by arin 87 of pneumatic 83. The lifting of the core opens the vent openingI 60 corresponding therewith, which flushes the 'suction chamber of the winding` pneumatic 54 of the same set, causing` said pneumatic to collapse and the take-up roll of the corresponding music she-et to be placed in driving connecion with the driving shaft 30. The selection on said sheet is then played until automatically stopped, or until stopped by depressing the corresponding rewind button 117. In either case the rewind control pneumatic 83 of the same set of devices is caused to collapse, 'which shuts ofi atmospheric air through the vent opening,` 60 by reason of the valve 63 becoming seated. The collapse of the rewind control pneumatic allows the corresponding rewind-stop pneumatic 90 to expand and places the contact 88 of said reWind-control pneumatic in'contact With the contact- 89 electrically connected With one of the other solenoids of the series. This energizes said solenoid and causes the core thereof to rise, whereupon retainer bar is actuated and permits the core of the first set of devices to descend and close the vent opening 60 of said set, thus making` doubly sure that the rewinding pneumatic 50 cannot be actuated. At the time the rewind stop pneumatic expands it engages the trip valve 94, causing the vent opening 95 to be openec., whereupon the rewinding pneumatic connected therewith by means of the tube 96 is caused to collapse and the associated music sheet to be rewound.

When the core 67 of the secondset of devices is elevated, it raises the 'trip valve 112 i from its seat, ex'posing the vent opening' 113 and causing the corresponding` rewind-stop pneumatic 90 to collapse: The expansion of the rewind-stop pneumatic 90 of the first set actuates the coperatinp; trip valve 94 and opens the vent opening 95 which has connection with the rewinding` pneumatic 50 of the first set through the mediumrof the tube 96 (see-Pig. 1), whereupon said rewinding pneumatic is collapsed and places the change of selections is Continued successively until all'the selections are played Vwhen the first selection will be're-played'.`

Assuming the selection playing to be that` i on the-Sheet of 'the second set of devices and that the picture displayed on a screen harmonizes only With--aportion of said s'election,which1portion when played it is desired `matic 90 of theA same set to expand whlch in turn causes the trip valve 91 to be unseated from the vent opening 95, thus through the medium ofthe tube 96, allowing the suction to aCt on the rewinding pneumatic 501which immediately places thev delivery'oroll of the music sheet in action to rewind the same, theextent of rewindbeing'controlled by stop button ilo.H 2, whichflushes the air Chamber 102 of valve chest 100 and causes Vthe rewind-stop pneumatic 90 tocollapse.

When releasing'the rewind button No. 2, the spring plate 124: associatedl therewith returns to normal. position so that the vent toV the airichamber 81 of the valve chest'78 isclosed and the rewind-control pneumatic 83 immediately expandsrand'permitsthe Correspondingivalve 63 to risezso that vent is given' to the associated winding pneumatic, whereupon the desired portion ofthe selection is `replayed.

It is to be understoodwthat the contacts' 122, 123 of -the i rewind -buttons merely serve to close-the electric 'cirCuit, and wheniany one ofthe rewind buttons. is depressed: this Circuit isbroken so that WhenY therewindcontrol pneumatic 83 isactuated, the contacts 88, 89 are madein a broken Circuit and do not:energizeanyv of :the solenoids., This action therefore retains thezcorei of 'the solenoids of the same set in elevated position sozthat the corresponding vent opening'GO i remains open:l at itsV outer end, althoughl` momentarily closed by' the valve-63: duetu` the reWind-control pneumatic being colzlapsed.

In ordento shut` off eachlof the tracker` bars from thehammer pneumatics whenthe musicsheet 1s being rewoundor'when 1t `is stationary, I, provide a cut-off 145 with which the apertures -or ductsl in the tracker bar communicate, each of said apertures or ductshaving connection with a divided passa e 146 in` saicl Cut-offiby'meansof' atube 14%,' .and'corresponding tubes 1481 are connected. with'the-.divided passages of said cutoff and the hammer pneumatics or other 'tonefproducing devices, also with any serv-V ing orcontrol-devices which? it is desired-to operatev or control in a similar manner. This cut-off is also provided with a suction Chamber 149V in which pouches 150-are'7located that normally close the adjacent ends offlthe divided passages 14:6. When, however, any one of the openings in the tracker bar is uncoveredbv the music sheet, the suc-- tion in theV Chamber 149 draws upon the f pouch or pouches 150 of the correspondingdivided passage and opens the adj acent ends of the same so that the two parts of the pas- Sage are in communication, as clearly-shown in Fig. 7, the suction Chamber 149`being coni nected` With' thefsuction bellows of the instrument'by a tube 151, i Having thus'des'cribed my invention, what I claim is,-

1. A musical instrument com rising a plurality of tracker bars, a music s ieet associated with each of the bars, mechanlsm for movlng the music sheets elther 1n a forward orireverse direction over the tracker bars, means for automatically causlng sald mechanism to rewind a music sheet When it has been played, and devices for startinga secondsheet immediately Vafter the first mentioned sheet has been played, said devices being Controlled either automatically for manually.

2. A musical instrument comprising a] plurality of tracker bars, a vmusic sheet associated witlr'each of the bars, means for moving the music sheets either in a forward or reverse direotion over the tracker bars,

and devices Controlled either manually or`` automatically for` starting a second sheet immediately afterthe first-mentioned i Sheet has been played; I

3; A musical instrument comprising a plurality of tracker bars, a music Sheet-associated. with each'of said bars, mechanisin` for moving the music sheets either in a for- Ward or reverse direction over the-trackerv bars, Vmeans for automatically causing said mechanism to rewind a music sheet when' it has been played, devices for automatically starting a second Sheet immediatelyY after the first-mentioned sheet has been played, and. manually-Controlled eleCtrically-operatedz'mechanism for placing any' sheet inl action commencing at any pointthereof.`

4; Avmusical instrument provided with a plurality of tracker bars each associated with a music sheet, means Controlled from thev trackerV bars for rewinding the music' sheets as they have been played, means forstopping' them When they have been rewound, and electrical 'i means for starting any otherof the remaining sheets.

5.` Ina musical 'instrument the combinationv of'a plurality of tracker bars, a music sheet associated with each of the bars, means for moving the music sheets in a forward direction, pneumatics for connecting the music sheets with said means, solenoids, vents for said pneumatics controlled by the cores of said' solenoids, and a retaining means for retaining said cores in attracted position.

6. In a multi-sheet musical instrument, the combination of a plurality of tracker bars, a music sheet associated with each tracker bar, driving mechanism for rewinding the music sheets, a pneumatic for each sheet adapted to connect the sheet with the driving mechanism, a vent for each pneumatic, and a vent control for each vent.

7. In a multi-sheet musical instrument, the combination of a plurality of tracker bars, a music sheet associated with each tracker bar, driving mechanism for rewinding the music sheets, a pneumatic for each sheet adapted to connect the sheet with said driving mechanism, a vent for each pneumatic, a vent control for each vent, means for individually Operating said vent controls, and a single stop device adapted toV hold each actuated vent control in spaced relation to its coperating vent to move the vent controls to closed position.

8. In a multi-sheet musical instrument, the combination of a plurality of tracker bars, a music sheet associated with each tracker bar, driving mechanism for rewinding the music sheets, a pneumatic for each sheet adapted to connect the sheet with said driving mechanism, a vent for each pneumatic, a pneumatic vent control for each vent, means for individually actuating said vent controls, and means for retaining each vent control in actuated position.

9. In a multi-sheet musical instrument, the combination of a plurality of tracker bars, a music sheet associated with each tracker bar, driving mechanism for rewinding the music sheets, a pneumatic for each sheet adapted to connect the sheet with said driving mechanism, a vent for each pneumatic, a 'pneumatic vent control for each vent, means for individually actuating said vent controls, and a stop device adapted to retain each actuated vent control in open position,

10. Ina multi-sheet musical instrument, the combination of a plurality of tracker bars, a music sheet associated with each tracker bar, driving mechanism for rewinding the music sheets, a pneumatic for4 each sheet adaptedto connect the sheet with said driving mechanism, a vent for each pneumatic, a pneumatic vent control for each vent, means for individually actuating 'each vent .control to bring the same into open position, and means to be actuated by said vent controls to permit the retained vent control to lower and close its coperating vent.

11. In a self-playing'musical instrument,

the combination of a plurality of tracker sheets in a forward direction to any desired` eXtent, means for selectively rewinding the sheets'to any desired eXtent, and devices for automatically Operating said selective driving means to start a music sheet in a forward direction when another music sheet is being rewound.

12. A musical instrument having a plurality of music sheets, means for winding and rewinding said sheets, manually controlled devices for causing any music sheet to be rewound at any time and automatic devices for causing any one of said sheets to be driven in a forward direction, said automatic devices being in part inactive when said manually-controlled devices are brought into action.

13. A musical instrument having a plurality of music sheets, means for winding and rewinding said sheets, and manually controlled devices for causing an music sheet to be wholly or partly rewoun at any time, and means for commencing the winding of any desired sheet from any desired point thereof.

l. In a musical instrument, the combination of a plurality of tracker bars, each co- Operating with a music sheet, drive mechanism, electro -magnetic devices associated with each sheet whereby the forward movement of the same is controlled, means for rewinding each of the music sheets, a circuit closer for each of the rewind means, and an electric circuit for each electro-magnetic device, said circuit including in series the circuit closer of the rewinding mechanism of the preceding music roll.

l15. In a musical instrument, the combination of a plurality of tracker bars, each colOperating with a music sheet, drive mechanlsm, electro-magnetic devices associated with each sheet whereby the forward movement of the same is controlled, means for rewinding each of the music sheets, a circuit closer for each of the rewind means, and an electric circuit for each electro-magnetic device, said circuit including in series the circuit closer of the rewinding mechanism' of the preceding music roll, and a manually operated circuit breaker. V

16. A musical instrument having a plurality of tracker bars, each associated with a music sheet, and manually controlled means for rewinding any music sheet at any time to any degree desired, and means for commencing the winding of said sheet from the point at which it was stopped.

17. A musical instrument comprising a plurality of tracker bars, a music sheet associated with each of said bars, and selective mechanism comprlsmgmeans for causmg any one of said note sheets to be mo-ved in a forward direction and means -to simultaneously rewind any other music sheet of the series.

18. A musical instrument comprising a plurality of tracker bars, a music sheet associated With each of said bars, and mechanism comprising means for causing any one of said music sheets to be moved in a for- Ward direction to any extent desired, and means for rewinding said music sheet to any extent desired.

19. A musical instrument comprising a plurality of tracker bars, a music sheet associated With each of said bars, and selective mechanism comprising means for selectively playing said music sheets and rewinding each sheet When played, and means for manually controlling the extent of forward or rewinding movement of each sheet.

20. A musical instrument comprising a plurality of tracker bars, a music sheet cooperating With each tracker bar, means to drive the sheets in a forward direction, means for causing any desired sheet to be connected separately With the driving means and means for simultaneously.partially or completely rewinding any sheet which may be played at the time of making such connection.

21. In a musical instrument, the combination of a plurality of tracker bars, a music sheet associated With each tracker bar, means for moving Vthe music sheets separately in a forward direction, and me'chanism for causing said first-mentioned means to move any desired sheet in one direction and simultaneously move another sheet in an opposite direction, either or both to any extent desired. i

22. In a multi-sheet musical instrument, the combination of a plurality of tracker bars, a music sheet associated With each tracker bar, drive mechanism for driving each of said music sheets separately in a for- Ward or in a reverse direction, a pneumatic for each sheet adapted to connect the sheet with said drive mechanism, a vent for each pneumatic, a vent control for each vent, anda stop device to retain the vent controls in open position, each vent control serving to control certain action of the remaining Vent control or controls.

23. The combination With a tracker bar, a music sheet and a delivery roll and take-up roll for said music sheet, of driving mechanism, a forward 'connector for connecting the take-up roll of the music sheet With said driving mechanism, a pneumatic for controlling the forward connector, a reWind connector for connecting the delivery roll of the music sheet with said driving mechanism, a pneumatic for controlling said rewind connector, and a vent for the last-mentioned pneumatic.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

MAX WEISBERG. 

